THE season is just four games old but Fernando Torres is already feeling the heat at Chelsea.

In the wake of three straight games without a goal, £50million hitman Torres is in danger of reverting back to the flop who failed to prove his worth for the Stamford Bridge men last term.

And last night his boss Roberto Di Matteo was forced to defend the Spaniard following criticism from former Blues boss Ruud Gullit.

After Chelsea’s 2-2 midweek draw with Juventus, Gullit said it might “not be a bad thing” if Torres were to pick up an injury because “at the moment they are playing with 10 men”.

And the Dutchman added: “He is not involved in the game. He is not in the places he has to be. It’s not enough. For a player of this standard, I want more from him.

“I am trying to figure out what is wrong with the lad.”

And while Di Matteo tried his best to back his man, the tone of his voice hinted that the Italian might be starting to worry about being left without a Plan B in attack.

Di Matteo, who will have to go with Torres up top for today’s visit of Stoke, said: “We’re happy with him. Even when he doesn’t score he works hard for the team and he’s always an outlet for us.

“At the moment there is no issue for us. Changing the system is not in discussion. We have a forward and we’re happy with our forward.

“Hopefully Daniel Sturridge will be fit and back soon as well. At the moment our system is playing with one forward.”

Sturridge’s ankle injury has only added to the expectations on Torres, whose bright early season form has evaporated in recent weeks.

A significant element of the travelling Blues support were angered by his petulant response to being substituted after 81 uninspired minutes at QPR last week and the previous chants of his name were noticeable by their absence against Juventus.

Torres admitted at the end of last season that he had been psychologically scarred by the 24-game goal drought he endured.

But after helping Spain to glory at Euro 2012 and grabbing goals in the first few games of the season, the hitman insisted he was back to his best.

Recent performances have suggested otherwise, however, and Di Matteo was forced to deny that Torres could be in for another torrid season.

When asked if history was repeating itself, the gaffer said: “No. He’s full of confidence, he’s playing well and scoring goals.

“We don’t want to put pressure on one player. We need to spread goals around the team.”

Stoke boss Tony Pulis also has problems with his strikers, having been forced to assure his stars that Michael Owen will have to fight for his place.

The Potters gaffer was angry at claims Owen only agreed to join Stoke because Pulis promised him he would play.

Pulis said: “Apparently he only signed for us because I guaranteed him he would start every time he was fit to play.

“We don’t work like that at this football club.

“You want everybody, especially the players, to be reassured, whether we sign Michael or whether we sign Mo Edu on a nominal fee from Rangers, if they are good enough and they are performing, they will be in the team.

“If the players found that was true, I’d have to pack my bags and leave.”